Bob White, of Edwardsville, a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, center, is escorted by his son, David White, through Lambert International Airport on Saturday after taking part in a Greater St. Louis Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Bob White, of Edwardsville, a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, center, is escorted by his son, David White, through Lambert International Airport on Saturday after taking part in a Greater St.

Bob White, of Edwardsville, a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, center, is escorted by his son, David White, through Lambert International Airport on Saturday after taking part in a Greater St. Louis Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Bob White, of Edwardsville, a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, center, is escorted by his son, David White, through Lambert International Airport on Saturday after taking part in a Greater St.

ST. LOUIS — Having served in the U.S. Navy during both World War II and the Korean War, Bob White had grown accustomed to traveling on the water.

But Saturday saw the Edwardsville man take to the skies as he and son David took part in a Greater St. Louis Honor Flight.

The whirlwind journey had the two leaving St. Louis early Saturday morning for Washington, D.C., and returning to a welcome home ceremony Saturday night.

Greater St. Louis Honor Flight organizes the events and this flight was the last of nine scheduled for 2018.

The flights are open to U.S. veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam Conflict.

Southwest Airlines covers the costs of the flight for the veterans with their guardians paying their own way.

David White, of Glen Carbon, made the trip with his 93-year-old father.

“It was a really cool thing,” David White said. “I’ve never been to (Washington) D.C., before.”

Once in the nation’s capital, the group of 23 veterans and guardians from St. Louis visited the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Air Force Memorial, the Marine Corps War Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, where they stopped at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

David White said the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was particularly special as the visitors witnessed the Changing of the Guard and some of the St. Louis contingent participated in a wreath-laying ceremony.

But, for Bob White, seeing the memorials for the two wars he served in was the primary draw.

“He wanted to see the World War II Memorial. He wanted to see the Korean memorial,” David White said. “Those were the two he was in.”

Bob White graduated from Edwardsville High School in 1943 and one month after he received his diploma, he was training at Naval Station Great Lakes, north of Chicago, preparing to serve the Navy in World War II.

White was assigned to a landing craft and took part in the 1944 invasion of France, D-Day.

He was later transferred to the Pacific and served aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Saratoga through the end of the war.

He was called back to the Navy in 1951 and served another 16 months during the Korean War.

White had two homecomings from his time on active duty and another Saturday night.

Twenty-two veterans and one veteran Army nurse took part in the flight, which are always met on their return by dozens of active-duty military personnel, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts as well as family and friends.

Bob White, suffering a cold, didn’t hesitate to describe his favorite part of the Honor Flight.

“Coming home,” he said.

But the significance of the trip wasn’t lost on him, either, as he had been waiting for some time to travel to Washington, D.C.